Virginia Gerrymandering
Eric Holder, a former U.S. Attorney General under Obama and the current chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, claims that today’s special election to gerrymander Virginia in order to switch 4 U.S. House seats to Democrats will “make the system as fair as it possibly can be” given what “Republicans started in Texas.”
IN FACT, the Republican map changes in Texas offset prior Democrat gerrymandering, and Democrats are trying to stack the deck even further in their favor. Here are the specifics:
- In the 2024 elections, Democrats won 49.4% of U.S. House seats while receiving 47.8% of the votes for U.S. House members. This is a 1.6-point gap, which equates to an additional 7 House seats.
- Before California recently redrew its map, 83% of California’s U.S. House seats were held by Democrats, while 58% of the state voted for Kamala Harris. This was a 25-point gap.
- Before Texas recently redrew its map, 66% of Texas’ U.S. House seats were held by Republicans, while 56% of the state voted for Trump. This 10-point gap was 15 points lower than California’s.
- Under California’s new map, 92% of California’s seats will likely be held by Democrats, while 58% of the state voted for Kamala Harris. This is a 34-point gap.
- Under Texas’ new map, 79% of Texas’ seats will likely be held by Republicans, while 56% of the state voted for Trump. This 23-point gap is 11 points lower than California’s likely gap, 4 points lower than the current gap in Illinois, and 16 points lower than the current gap in Massachusetts.
- If Virginia’s proposed map is passed in accord with Holder’s wishes, 91% of Virginia’s seats will likely be held by Democrats, while 52% of the state voted for Kamala Harris. This 39-point gap is 16 points higher than the likely gap in Texas.
The U.S. House of Representatives is called the “People’s House” and is supposed to be “especially responsive to popular will.” James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, wrote that the House “should have an immediate dependence on, and an intimate sympathy with, the people.”
